Mixing assembly for brush-headed applicator



Nov. 28, 1967 G. SCHWARTZMAN 3,355,238

MIXING ASSEMBLY FOR BRUSH-HEADED APPLICATOR Filed Aug. 31, v1966 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 2

INVE/QTUR. 6745562- ff bM427Z V44/ United States Patent 3,355,238 MEXENG ASSEMBLY FOR BRUSH-HEADED APPHCATGR Gilbert Schwartzman, 20 Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 Filed Aug. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 576,430 8 Claims. (Cl. 401-41) This invention relates to a mixing assembly for a brush headed applicator, and has for its primary object the provision of a single package assembly for facilitating the separate shelf storage of two substances adapted to be thereafter mixed, and further facilitates the application of the mixture through a novel applicator head provided with bristles or the like.

The present invention is especially adapted for use with two materials or substances which have an extended shelf life when not mixed, but which must be utilized relatively soon after mixture to prevent deterioration. Various cosmetics, medications, hair dyes, pigments, epoxy adhesives, polishes, cleansing solutions and the like have the foregoing characteristics. For example, conventional hair dyes employ a base material such as a peroxide solution or the like, with which a pigmented material or solution is mixed for immediate application on the hair. The color is determined by the make-up of the pigmented solution. If the pigmented material is mixed with the base and allowed to stand, the mixture may rapidly deteriorate and thus become unusable. It is often very messy to mix these solutions together using separate containers, and the present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a unitary storage and mixing facility, but also has the additional advantage of providing for convenient application of the mixed fluid using a brush type applicator.

One of the important objects of the invention resides in the provision of a valve assembly having integrally formed with the valve stem a valve member arranged in the form of a disc initially under compression to provide a positive initial seal. A bellows swaged to the retainer ring functions to not only support the applicator head on the valve assembly, but also limits the movement of the valve head and valve stem, provides for a watertight compartment for forming a reservoir for measured flow of material, but also normally urges the valve assembly to a valve-closed position.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel sealing plate adapted to be released upon initial actuation of a valve stem to permit mixture of the substances.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an applicator that permits the separate shelf storage of two substances of an unstable mixture and which facilitates the mixture of the two substances and further facilitates the application of the mixture immediately after mixing using a novel applicator head, all without removing the substances from the simple assembly comprising the present invention or requiring any exterior handling thereof.

The construction of this invention features the use of an applicator which has a retainer ring arranged to receive a first substance, and to utilize the valve assembly thereof to displace a sealing plate to permit mixture of the first substance with a second substance in a container.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an applicator which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, capable of metering fluid, such as hair coloring dyes and the like, of various viscosities in an effective manner, and which is especially adapted for use in connection with cosmetics, medications, hair dyes and tints, polishes, and the like.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this applicator, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an applicator constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention and shown in an initial sealed position;

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1, but showing the applicator in a position during initial operation thereof, and showing the applicator in a valve closed position in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the applicator in an overturned position for use in applying the mixed liquid;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane of line 44 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane of line 55 in FIG. 2.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the applicator comprising the present invention. This applicator includes a container 12 in which a retainer ring 14 is positioned. The retainer ring includes a projecting portion 15 designed to fit in the neck of the container 12 and includes a flange 16 provided with a swaged lip 18 for securing a resilient bellows 20 in fluid tight relationship to the retaining ring 14. The bellows 20 is provided with an enlarged lower end portion 22 about which the lip 18 is swaged.

The retaining ring 14 is provided with a web 26 which has an arcuate tapered opening 28 therein. Cooperating with the arcuate tapered valve opening 28, which serves as a valve seat, is a resilient disc 30 of an integrally molded valve assembly generally indicated at 24. The valve assembly includes a hollow valve stem 32 as well as the applicator head generally indicated at 34.

The applicator head 34 is disposed above and outwardly of the retainer ring 14 and the bellows 20 is integrally molded therewith. The bellows 20 are resilient and normally are under compression and urge the applicator head away from the retainer ring 14. The applicator head is provided with a plurality of bores 36 therethrough so that liquid material passing through the valve opening 28 and into the space 38 defined by the retainer ring 14 including the web 26 thereof, the bellows 20, and the applicator head 34 can pass through the bores 36 and onto the bristles 40 disposed on the outer surface of the applicator head 34.

The lowermost edge 42 of the projecting portion 15 is swaged to hold a sealing plate 46 to the retaining ring 14. The sealing plate 46 forms a sealing closure for the retaining ring 14. A detent 48 may be disposed on the plate 46. The detent 46 cooperates with the valve stem 32 and is complementary thereto.

Disposed in the container 12 is a first substance indicated at A, such as a liquid component of a hair dye or the like. A second substance B, such as a pigment, powder, or the like is sealed within the retainer ring 14 so that upon depression of the applicator head 34, and actuation of the sealing plate 46 by engagement of the valve stem with the detent 48, the sealing plate 46, as shown in FIG. 2, will be pushed out allowing the substance B to mix with the substance A. The initial actuation of the applicator head 34 will break the positive seal formed by the engagement under compression as shown in FIG. 1 of the valve member 30 with the valve seat so that the disc 30 will then expand outwardly as shown in FIG. 2, and will, upon release of the applicator head 34, move to a position as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2 to engage the under surface 50- of the web to close the valve.

Subsequent uses of the applicator allow for the mixed solutions to pass through the valve opening 28 as shown by the arrows C, FIG. 3, and thence through the bores 36 disposed on the applicator head 34.

The valve stem 32 serves the purpose of not only carrying the applicator head 34, but also carries the valve disc 30 and serves to engage the sealing plate 48 on the detent 46. The bellows 20 performs the unusual multiple functions of securely mounting the applicator head 34, providing one of the elements for forming the reservoir 38, normally urges the applicator head 34 away from the retaining ring 14 and the valve disc 30 into engagement with the surface 50 of the web 26 to prevent further fluid flow through the valve opening 28, and permits for connection of the valve assembly 32 to the retaining ring 14 by way of the swaged engagement of the flange 18 with the enlarged portion 22 of the bellows 20.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. An applicator for use with a container provided with an open neck and having a first substance disposed therein, said applicator comprising a retainer ring having a projecting portion for reception in said neck, said ring having a valve opening therein forming a valve seat, a valve assembly including a valve stem extending through said opening and provided with a valve member engageable with said valve seat to close said opening and being movable with respect to said valve seat to control fluid fiow through said opening, an applicator head integral with said valve stem, a resilient bellows secured to said ring, said bellows being connected to said applicator head, said projecting portion being provided with sealing means to hold a second substance within said retainer ring, said valve stem being engageable with said sealing means upon depression of said bellows to open said projecting portion to permit the second substance to mix with the first substance, said bellows normally urging said valve member against the valve seat to close said opening.

2. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said projecting portion includes an end remote from said applicator head, said sealing means including a plate removably secured to said end.

3. An applicator according to claim 2, including a detent on said plate engageable with said valve stem.

4. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said valve member includes a resilient disc integral with said valve stem, said resilient disc intially being wholly received in said valve opening with said disc being under compression forming an initial seal.

5. An applicator according to claim 4, wherein said applicator head is provided with a plurality of bores therethrough so that liquid material, passing through said valve opening into a space defined by said retainer ring, said bellows and said applicator head, can pass through said bores onto said applicator head.

6. An applicator according to claim 5, including bristles on said applicator head.

7. An applicator according to claim 6, wherein said projecting portion includes an end remote from said applicator head, said sealing means including a plate removably secured to said end, said plate having a detent thereon engageable with said valve stem.

8. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein said retaining ring is provided with an outwardly disposed peripheral flange having a lip engaging said bellows in fluid tight relationship.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,073,292 3/1937 Waite et al 15539 2,642,065 6/1953 Negri 15539 X 3,134,505 5/1964 Modderno 222182 X 3,172,568 3/1965 Modderno 222-40211 3,240,391 3/1966 Garton 222 3,240,403 3/1966 Modderno 206.47 X 3,255,926 6/1966 Modderno 206.47 X 3,314,563 4/1967 Mounier 206.47 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,261,684 7/ 1960 France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. 1. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPLICATOR FOR USE WITH A CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN NECK AND HAVING A FIRST SUBSTANCE DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING A RETAINER RING HAVING A PROJECTING PORTION FOR RECEPTION IN SAID NECK, SAID RING HAVING A VALVE OPENING THEREIN FORMING A VALVE SEAT, A VALVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A VALVE STEM EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND PROVIDED WITH A VALVE MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID VALVE SEAT TO CLOSE SAID OPENING AND BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID VALVE SEAT TO CONTROL FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID OPENING, AN APPLICATOR HEAD INTEGRAL WITH SAID VALVE STEM, A RESILIENT BELLOWS SECURED TO SAID RING SAID BELLOWS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID APPLICATOR HEAD, SAID PROJECTING PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH SEALING MEANS TO HOLD A SECOND SUBSTANCE WITHIN SAID RETAINER RING, SAID VALVE STEM BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SEALING MEANS UPON DEPRESSION OF SAID BELLOWS TO OPEN SAID PROJECTING PORTION TO PERMIT THE SECOND SUBSTANCE TO MIX WITH THE FIRST SUBSTANCE, SAID BELLOWS NORMALLY URGING AND VALVE MEMBER AGAINST THE VALVE SEAT TO CLOSE AND OPENING. 